CFT Featured Article / December 2006

Season’s Greetings!   May we take this opportunity to wish you all a fantastic time over the festive period, a very Happy New Year and last but not least happy travels!  This is definitely the time of year when a lot of us are on the move either for holidays or to see the family and with this in mind, we have researched a few essentials to ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible……

*On the move Backpack

The Koo Koo Kidz Children's Travel Activity Bag is a clever invention by a mother of two children for busy families and saves you having to think about yet another thing when packing for the family! There are 2 styles to choose from – a tote or a backpack. Both bags come already packed for you. Included in each one is a colouring/activity book featuring the Koo Koo Kidz Characters (really cute too!), a doodle pad, twist up crayons, antibacterial wipes, and Koo Koo Kidz character stickers.  If you want to take the boredom out of car trips, plane rides, or even waiting for your meal at a restaurant, then this is a great idea.  Yes, you could make up one yourself but the Koo Koo Kidz characters are very appealing indeed and it’s one less thing to cross off the packing list.

 Visit the website at: http://www.kookookidz.com/

 *Tracking Your Children Whilst Out & About

 Have you ever had that terrible panic attack when you’ve let your child go for literally one minute and he/she has disappeared?  Well, if you’ve got your hands full, literally, this is a great little idea to give you peace of mind.

 The ionKids system allows you to monitor up to four tagged objects at once. Children, parents, pets or anything you might lose and want to keep safe. The system consists of a base unit, a handheld device that allows parents to monitor up to four tags simultaneously and a Wristag.  Wristags can be locked onto children's wrists. ionKids lets you set a variable zone around the base unit so you will know when your child wanders to far. If you can't find them, use the locating device and let it show you where to go to find them.

This is a useful gadget for use in an airport especially when you may have more than one child to monitor!

    Base Unit:
This small, easy to use device is used by the parent or guardian to monitor the location of the Wristag™ wearer. The Base Unit , a handheld device, allows parents to monitor up to four Wristags simultaneously.

   Wristag:
This specially designed, tamper- and water-resistant bracelet is worn by the child. The Wristag is designed to be fun to wear and requires no interaction on the part of the child. ionKids Wristags adjust to fit snugly against your child's skin, and contain a strong locking mechanism that cannot be easily opened without a key, which comes with the Base Unit.

Visit the website at:  http://www.ion-kids.com/

*Feeding the Children En Route

You can picture the scene – you packed a nice little lunchbox, opened it up but then, where can you put all the contents as children do like to remove everything at once and secondly after one bite they are immediately distracted.  Well, this all in one lunchbox/cooler and playmate seem to be a clever solution to this problem.

Basically, the ‘Eat-N-Play Activity Cooler’ gives your child a clean, convenient, and entertaining eating surface – wherever you go: perfect for airports and trains in addition to picnics and day trips! This convenient cooler stores your child's snack, then opens flat to provide a clean eating surface.
The original Zoo theme cooler includes the Zookeeper, a Monkey and a Jeep but there is also a Garden or a Town theme to choose from.

Visit the website at: http://www.inventiveparent.com/

*Transporting your Child and your Luggage Together!

 Yes, this is a seat for your toddler that is attached to your luggage so you can pull them along together and then take everything onto the plane in one go!  Seamless or what!

·Install or remove in just seconds.

·Universal fit on carry-on luggage 18-22 inches tall.

·Folds flat to fit in the overhead or under the seat.

·Headrest doubles as a handy tray table.

·No more waiting at your destination for your stroller/pushchair

Have a look at the website:  http://www.rideoncarryon.com/

 *No, You Don’t Have to Take the Kitchen Sink With You!

Have you ever worried about taking those huge tins of formula with you or concerned that you probably won’t find that favourite jar of organic food in the Caribbean corner shop?  Well, don’t panic, order whatever you like from Babies Travel Lite and they will deliver worldwide to your chosen holiday destination.  Now that’s great as it leaves more room in the suitcase for all your things………….

Diapers/Nappies, formula, food & more can be delivered to travel destinations
worldwide (or even to your front door).

Babies Travel Lite delivers over 1000 name brand baby products including diapers/nappies, formula, food and more to travel destinations in the United States and worldwide.

Babies Travel Lite carries a full line of organic products including baby food and formula; diapering, bathing and sun care items; and Earth friendly diapers.

Have a look at the website:  http://www.babiestravellite.com/

*When the Travel Cot doesn’t quite travel!

Well, have a look at this below – it’s called a PeaPod and we think it’s fab…..

KidCo's PeaPod™ is the travel bed that does it all for the on-the-go parent!  The inflatable air mattress helps protect your child from cold, damp floors while providing a comforting place to sleep.  It is ideal for the beach too because of its UV protection and wind screens and great for staying with friends as well.  There are zippered panels which allow parents quick and easy access to their baby from virtually any angle.  The slick, easy to fold design makes it ideal for storage and use anytime.

Have a look at the website:  http://www.kidco.com/

*Solving the Tricky Carseat Issue – No, you don’t need to take yours with you!

Imagine how convenient travel becomes with your Strolex 2: you fly into town with your baby beside you in the FAA-approved flight seat. When it's time to disembark from the plane, you transform your Strolex 2 from the flight seat to your stroller/pushchair, which rolls down the plane's aisle, then up the airbridge into the airport. You stop for a quick bite to eat, and the Strolex 2 becomes a handy booster seat for the table. Then it's back to stroller as you leave the terminal to hail a taxi. The stroller transforms into a carseat which quickly buckles into the taxi, and you're ready to continue your journey.  Wow, how easy is that then?

Have a look at the website:  http://www.strolex.com/

*Trendy Travel Slings – Cool or What

This is a great idea for when your baby is still light enough to carry.  It also ensures your hands are free should you have other little ones or luggage to hold onto.

Monkey Bums Slings are 100% cotton baby carriers that come in several trendy fabrics  to match any outfit or mood. These Baby Slings make ‘wearing your baby’ easy and fun by allowing you the freedom to go anywhere without having to bring the usual bulky baby items like strollers/pushchairs or carry seats. Also, thought up, owned and run by an enterprising mother – yes we do have all the great ideas!

Have a look at the website:  http://www.monkeybums.com/

*A Suitcase the Children can Ride On!

Trunki Terrance and Trixki are bright blue and bright pink respectively ride-on suitcases which can also be pulled along should you wish to hurry your child along.  At only 1.7 kgs it is light enough and small enough to be stored in the overhead locker on the plane – always a bonus being able to keep the children and their favourite possessions close by.

This is a fun and funky invention which we really like.

Have a look at the website:  http://www.trunki.co.uk/

 *Last but not Least

We really like this UK based website, http://www.letterbox.co.uk/, not only for present ideas but practical things too.  They also have several travel related items that we think you’ll find as useful as we did.

We loved the:-

Pink Hearts Suitcase Set

Set of three. Made from lightweight fibreboard they arrive nested in one another.

Pirate Boy Travel Set / Funky Flowergirl Travel Set

Ensures a long journey by car, train and plane will be easier and happier with these travel kits. The comfy soft safe neck pillow will help them sleep all the way and the two seat belt covers will stop any chafing.

Child’s Classic Suitcase

A stylish retro suitcase that’s just the size for overnight trips or for taking your favourite things on holiday – also they’re also great for storage.

As mentioned above, the website is:  http://www.letterbox.co.uk/

 Safe & Smooth Travels!